The residents warn that proposed access roads to a protected wetland could threaten estate security and worsen flooding, citing previous assurances from Lagos government officials.
Residents of Magodo Phase II in Lagos have urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene over alleged attempts by land speculators and developers to gain access to protected wetlands through their estate.
The Magodo Phase II Residents Association (MRA) raised the alarm in a communiqué issued after a press conference at the Shangisha gate on Monday and signed by its chairman, Niyi Odusi.
The residents alleged that land speculators and developers planned to construct link roads through the estate to reach the undeveloped Magodo wetland.
They warned that the alleged plan could compromise residents’ safety, threaten properties and damage an environmentally sensitive area.
“The estate is currently under threat,” the communiqué stated.
The association also claimed that articulated trucks and heavy-duty equipment were stationed outside the Shangisha gate, allegedly ready to force their way into the estate.
It called on Sanwo-Olu to order the removal of the vehicles and protect the estate’s boundaries.
The allegations have not been independently established in the information provided.
Residents Cite Previous Government Assurances
The association said the latest concerns contradicted earlier assurances from the Lagos State Government about protecting the estate from encroachment.
It recalled a meeting on November 26, 2023, when Oluyinka Olumide, the commissioner for physical planning and urban development, reportedly assured residents that the government would not facilitate access routes through the estate to the undeveloped wetland.
The residents said allowing the proposed development would undermine those assurances and expose the surrounding area to environmental risks.
They also cited previous warnings by Tokunbo Wahab, the commissioner for the environment and water resources, about the potential consequences of building on the wetland.
According to the association, Wahab warned that flooding linked to development on the wetland could make the Isheri-Oshun flooding disaster look like “child’s play”.
The residents said the commissioner had also assured them that the government would enforce its wetland protection policies.
Wetland Raises Flooding Concerns
The residents further cited remarks attributed to Francisco Abosede, a former commissioner for physical planning and urban development.
According to the association, Abosede said the wetland’s soil was unsuitable for residential construction.
The residents also said the Lagos State Master Plan identifies the wetland as a natural stormwater collection area serving Agidingbi, Ikeja, Ogba and Alausa.
They argued that the wetland helps manage stormwater and reduces the risks of flooding and erosion in surrounding communities.
“If this wetland is compromised, the stormwater from Ikeja, Alausa, and surrounding areas will have nowhere to go, resulting in catastrophic flooding that will submerge Magodo and threaten the state’s seat of power,” the communiqué stated.
The association’s warning centres on the wetland’s reported drainage function and the potential consequences of altering the area.
However, the supplied account does not include an independent environmental assessment confirming the projected impact of the alleged development.
Association Demands Urgent Government Intervention
The MRA said it would not accept actions it believes could endanger residents, properties and the environment.
It urged the Lagos State Government to enforce existing laws, honour previous commitments and act swiftly to secure the Shangisha gate axis.
The association also called for the removal of the heavy-duty vehicles it said were positioned outside the estate.
The next steps will depend on the state government’s response to the residents’ appeal and any official clarification regarding the alleged access-road proposal.
The dispute places renewed attention on the protection of urban wetlands as Lagos faces continuing concerns about drainage, flooding and pressure for property development.
